Boxwood

also known as dudgeon

Also known as dudgeon, this hardwood from the box tree or shrub is commonly used to make combs, fine carvings, spoons, musical instrument parts, or decorative storage boxes. Boxwood is naturally light in color and has a fine grain that lacks growth rings. This is one of the rare woods that sink in water instead of floating.
Common substitutes are rosewood and beech. Can be used to substitute for ivory or (with staining) ebony.

Properties

Material Characteristics

A fine-grained hardwood, lacking growth rings, naturally light in color but capable of accepting a stain for color.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Boxwood is resistant to chipping and is one of the rare woods that sink in water.

Geology & Geography

Found throughout Hellas and the region in general. The box tree/shrub may be an understory tree in European beech forests or by itself as an open dry montane scrub. Also sometimes used as topiary for those who like the smell.

Origin & Source

The evergreen flowering box tree or shrub typically grows to be 3-30 feet tall with a trunk up to 8 inches in diameter, although an exceptional plant may be 35 feet tall with an 18-inch diameter trunk. Flowers are small and lack petals, but are fragrant (offensively so to some people) and become three-lobed seed capsules containing 3-6 seeds each.

History & Usage

Manufacturing & Products

Combs, decorative boxes, stringed instrument bridges and pegs, dagger and knife handles.

Type

Wood

Value

Low, but can be used by master craftsmen to make luxury items.

Rarity

Common

Color

Off-white, but can be stained a variety of colors, most commonly black as a replacement for ebony.